Condenser for automobiles.



No. 696,478. Patented Apr. I, I902.

E. J. PENNINGTUN.

CONDENSER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

(Application filed June 22, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

.3% hi eooea Patented Apr. I, I902.

2 Sha'ota-Shefl 2,

E. .1. PENNINGTON. cquosnssn FOB AUTOMOBILE-$3? (Applicatibn 1119a June 22, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Witness m: NORRIS PETER; cu PHOTO-THO wnsmnm'om n. c.

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EDWARD J. PENNINGTON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. W. PLANK AND GEORGE EDWARD MILLS, OF CARLTSLE, PENN- SYLVANIA.

CONDENSER FDR AUTOMOBILES.

SPEGIFIGATIDN forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,478, dated April 1, 1902.

Application filed June 22, 1901. Serial No. 65,723. (No model.)

To (0% whmn it nutty concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. PENNING- TON, acitizen of the United States, residing at the Hotel Metropole, London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Effecting the Condensation of EX- haust-Steam on Steam Road- Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a device for condensation of exhaust-steam on steam road-vehicles and either so reducing'the temperature as to allow of its final escape in a practically invisible and noiselesscondition or returning it as water to either the reservoir or direct to the boiler.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are views showing one form .of my invention. Fig. 3 shows the invention in modified form. Figs. 4- and 5 illustrate further modifications. Fig. 6 shows a special adaptation and embodiment of my invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

Referring more especially to Figs. 1 and 2, the exhaust-steam is carried by a pipe 1 from the engine to a chamber 2 in the hub of the wheel ofthe vehicle. Into this chamber 2 are screwed or otherwise fastened the spokes 4 of the wheel, which are made of steeltubes, with the ends opening into the chamber 2, and at the end of the spokes, near the rim of the wheel,are holes 5,throngh which the steam, now condensed into water by the centrifugal force with which it has been thrown, (a force which compels the steam to travel at a higher speed than the normal rate of vexpansion in its then-atten uated form,) is allowed to escape. The hollow spokes thus form a condenser which is travelingin two directions--around its own axis and also in the direction the vehicle is traveling-and consequently it is always in contact with a cool atmosphere. Additional cooling effect can be secured either by placing around the spokes disks 6 to act as radiators or by attaching ribs 7 down the sides of the spokes.

Referring now to Fig. 3, when it is desired to condense the steam and save water to use it again through the boiler, I employ two hollow chambers 2 2 in the hub, the first one, 2,

to receive the exhaust-steam, as already described, which steam is thrown by centrifugal force through the hollow spokes, and instead of being allowed to escape near the rim of the wheel it continues to travel along the hollow spokes, each of which has a U-shaped bend 4, where it is passed through a specially-constructed rim (see Fig. 3) and runs back to the second chamber of the hub. When the steam, now converted into water, reaches said second chamber, it is withdrawn by a pump and carried to either the cistern or to the boiler by means hereinafter described.

Having reference now to Figs. 4- and 5, instead of using hollow spokes for the condensation of steam I pass the exhaust-steam from the first chamber 2 into a pipe 1, the end of which is inserted in said chamber, and the pipe is then run around spirally in graduallyincreasing folds, as shown, being made fast to and laid up flat against the spokes 4 until the outmost fold and outer circumference of the spirally-coiled pipe reaches the inner circumference of the rim, when if it is not desired to finally return the condensed steam to the boiler or reservoir it is allowed to escape as water, which it will of course do when the open end of the pipe lying against the rim is near the ground. If, however, the condensed steam is to be returned as hot water to the boiler or reservoir, the pipe when it has filled all the space with its coils between the chamber and the rim is bent sharply around (see particularly Fig. 5) and rewound in gradually-decreasing coils on the other side of the spokes until the last and innercoil reaches the second chamber 2 .in thehub already referred to, the end of the pipe terurinating in said chamber and discharging the hot water therein. The hot water is ex tracted from the chamber 2 by means of a pump through a flexible or other pipe having a connection with the chamber 2. The spihaust-steam into the first chamber 2 in the hub and finally attach the pump to extract the water from the second chamber 2, and I will illustrate this on an axle 10 of a wheel which is a fixed axle, the wheel revolving around it, having special reference to Fig. 6. The axle 10 is preferably of tubular steel, and into the wall of the tubular axle at a suitable place I tap and screw in a nipple 11say about the middle of the axle-to which nipple is attached the exhaust-steam pipe 1 from the engine. The exhaust-steam may travel to the end of the axle, as both wheels are fitted with similar condensing apparatus. The outer wall of the chamber 2 on the inside of the wheel has a bearing on the axle. The length of the axle within the chamber 2 is, say, two inches, when a division-wall, which also has a bearing on the axle, is met. Beyond the division-wall is the second chamber 2, two inches wide, measuring along the axle,

when the outer wall on the side of the wheel farthest from the carriage is met, with its bearing-surface on the axle, through and beyond which the axle end protrudes in order to receive a nut 12 or other device for preventing the wheel coming off and to allow of the attachment of flexible or other tubing 13, with which the pump 14, drawing the water formed by the condensed steam, is connected. The hub, as stated, consists of two chambers, with a division-wall between them, the three wallsbeing ofsufficient thickness and strength to afford bearing-surface for the axle in case of a free wheel or of keying-surface fora wheel fixed to a revolving axle. The axle is slotted or perforated on the length which is contained within the two chain bers, the inner slots being to admit the steam from the hollow axle to the first chamber for circulation through either the spokes or the spirally-coiled tubes, the outer slots on the axle being to admit the suction of the condensed water by the pump from the second chamber into the axle, which water is afterward delivered by the pipe connection from one end of the axle to the reservoir or the boiler. A tubular axle is corked up at a point opposite the division-wall 2 in the hub, so that the steam cannot mix with the water without first pressing through the spokes 4. or spirally-coiled tubes 1. In case of a Wheel keyed to an axle and revolving with it the axle is hollow, with perforations at parts passing through the chambers,as before described, the only difference being in style of steam and water joints for admitting steam and drawing off water, which are of suitable design and for which no claim of novelty is made.

I claim 1. In adevice for effecting the condensation of exhaust-steam on steam road-vehicles,-the combination with the steam-exhaust pipe, of a wheel, which is one of the running-wheels of the vehicle, said wheels having a chambered hub to receive the exhaust, and radially-arranged distributing-pipesleading from the chambered hub, said pipes being provided with discharge-openings near the rim, substantially as set forth.

2. In adevice for effecting the condensation of exhaust-steam on steam road-vehicles, the combination with the steam-exhaust pipe, of a wheel which is one of the running-wheels" of the vehicle, said wheel having achambered hub to receive the exhaust, and radial hollow spokes extending from the chambered hub to the rim, said spokes being provided with discharge-openings near the rim, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device for effecting the condensation of exhaust-steam on road-vehicles, the combination with the steam-exhaust pipe of a cham-- bered wheel, which is one of the runningwheels of the vehicle,a hollow axle upon which said Wheel is mounted, there being communication between said chambered wheel and the interior of said axle,said wheel being provided with means for receiving, distributing and discharging the exhaust, substantially as set 0 forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. EDWVARD J. PENNINGTON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE II. HOWARD, ROBERT H. PATTERSON. 

